Mitchell, who was just 19 at the time, ploughed through red lights and weaved the plush motor onto the wrong side of the busy A90 dual carriageway as he attempted to escape.

Officers using lights and sirens chased the dangerous driver for about seven miles, from South Queensferry into the Clermiston area of the capital, where they were eventually told to back off due to the danger Mitchell was causing in a built up residential area.

Mitchell, who has recently been employed by BMW, claimed he had been in an “emotional state” after visiting the graveside of a friend who had been killed in a motorcycle accident.

The 20-year-old is now facing custody after admitting to an amended charge of dangerous driving on various roads in Edinburgh on September 3, 2015, when he previously appeared at the capital’s sheriff court last month.

serious assault

'I'M INNOCENT'

Mr Steele said: “He then crossed onto the opposite carriageway into the face of oncoming traffic and the pursuit continued along the A90 and past the Barnton junction weaving through the traffic.

“The pursuit continued at a safe distance onto Queensferry Road where the Jaguar was seen driving at approximately 60mph in a 40mph limit.

“He continued to weave through the traffic often using the opposing carriageway to overtake other vehicles.”

The fiscal added Mitchell then lost control of the speeding Jag by striking a traffic island but managed to continue through the Quality Street junction.

The chasing officers were then told to call off the pursuit due to the danger Mitchell posed to the public as he drove through red lights and ignored give way signs.

The CCTV coverage continued and a police dog handler who had been “tactically positioned” on Hillhouse Road managed to get a view of the Jaguar driver.
The vehicle was then lost to sight but Mitchell was soon picked up and arrested.

Solicitor Charlie Morrison, defending, told the court Mitchell was currently serving a two-year driving ban and is currently under an offenders’ supervision order.

Mr Morrison added his client had “[recently] started a new job at BMW” and had been “horrified by what he saw” when he was shown the CCTV footage of his crazy driving that morning.

Mr Morrison said: “It was dreadful, dangerous driving but there was no accident which is the one silver lining.

“He had been to South Queensferry to the graveside of his best friend who had died in front of him in a motorcycle accident. He was in a very emotional state.”

Sheriff Nigel Ross banned Mitchell from the road for a period still to be determined and deferred sentence to next month.